Madiba – A Six Part Review of the Last 95 Years – Part 6

by Steuart Pennington

try and write a Constitution that is good for South Africa and not just for the ANC  ~ Nelson Madiba

In this, the final article on the life of our former President Nelson Mandela I deal with his five years as the Head of State. No doubt Madiba was faced with enormously difficult task:

• a nervous white community and an expectant black community
• the negotiation of a new constitution
• the management of a government of national unity
• the establishment of a new parliament

He will best be remembered for his work in delivering on these four challenges and his work as a reconciler.

But he had other challenges as well:

• a failing economy with large debt and high inflation
• fear of a right-wing uprising
• a crisis of disorderliness, expectation and entitlement amongst the masses
• a new breed of civil servants baying for the gravy chain
• HIV/Aids
• an international community watching and waiting
• a wife with criminal charges against her

1994: 10 May: Tens of thousands of people gather at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to witness the inauguration of Madiba as South Africa’s first democratically elected president.

Addressing the jubilant crowd Madiba states that a new society will be born from the ashes of the past.  “South Africans have won their political freedom, but we are now faced with a new struggle to free people from poverty, inequality, suffering and all forms of discrimination”.

“Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.  Let freedom reign.  The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement.  God Bless Africa”.

He faced three main tasks:

• To establish a working democracy in the country
• To find ways of building a single nation
• To ensure that political liberation was matched by social and economic progress

Madiba had to become a trusted Statesman, capable of building the nation.

Achmat Dangor.  A co-prisoner on Robben Island said, “I have rarely seen Madiba jump into things – he thinks things out first.  His strategies are worked out in his mind – and he is willing to adapt them in the face of the reality of the circumstances”.

An example of this was his approach to our Constitution, “try and write a Constitution that is good for South Africa and not just for the ANC” he said to George Bizos.

Throughout his Presidency he exhibited a profound respect for an independent Judiciary and a free press.  An example of this was his preparedness in 1998 to appear in court when Louis Luyt of SA Rugby tried to use the courts to block a government enquiry into allegations of racism in Rugby.

Early on in his Presidency he sets up;

• Human Rights Commission.
• Commission for Gender Equity.
• Office of the Public Protector.
• Scraps 100 laws governing Press Freedom.
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Reconstruction and Development Programme.

To make his commitment to reconciliation clearly visible Madiba visited remote San villages, dusty townships, mosques, synagogues and Dutch Reformed churches.  Madiba also took time out to visit Betsie Verwoerd, the widow of Hendrik Verwoerd as well as former President, PW Botha.

1995: South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup and beat New Zealand in the final.  In one of the defining moments of his Presidency Madiba appeared wearing a Springbok cap and a Number 6 Springbok rugby jersey, the same number as that of the Captain, Francois Pienaar.  The spectators, 95% white, were stunned into silence and then started shouting, “Nel-son, Nel-son, Nel-son!”  One burly spectator who had arrived with the old South African flag was seen to put it down and say, “daar staan my President”. (I was in the UK at the time and watched the game live at Acton East in the company of several thousand Australians and New Zealanders.  Everyone was overcome with emotion… but most of all the South Africans.)

1995: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established and chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu who said, “one of Madiba’s lasting gifts to South Africa and the world will surely be the TRC where the victors did not rub salt into the wounds of their vanquished foe but decided to walk the path of forgiveness and reconciliation”.

The TRC took statements from 22,000 victims of apartheid and received applications for amnesty from 7,100 perpetrators.  Amnesty was granted to 1,146 of them.

(To my knowledge the establishment of the TRC was unique to South Africa).

During his Presidency 700,000 houses were delivered to the poorest families free of charge.  There were major successes in the delivery of water and electricity.  Access to schooling improved.  The Social Security System including old age pensions and grants to poor families with small children was massively expanded.

But it wasn’t easy, the legacy of protest politics continued. Out breaks of lawlessness were common place. Students seized teachers as hostages, vandalised buildings and looted shops. Striking policemen set up unlawful roadblocks. Prison warders allowed dangerous prisoners to escape. Taxi drivers organised blockades. Some 200 policemen were killed during 1994.

1995: At the opening of Parliament in 1995 Madiba launched a tirade against workers and students. “let it be clear to all that the battle against forces of anarchy and chaos has been joined. Let no one say you have not been warned… let me make it abundantly clear that the small minority in our midst which wears the mask of anarchy will meet its match in the government we lead”.

“We must rid ourselves of the culture of entitlement”.

Wary of a white right-wing revolt he worked hard at improving relations with General Constant Viljoen.

In the government of national unity he appointed F.W. de Klerk and Mangosuthu Buthelezi as hid deputy presidents, but soon manoeuvred them into obscurity.

1996: SA’s constitution is finalised, F.W de Klerk withdraws from the interim government “The ANC is acting more and more as if they no longer need a multiparty government”.

Madiba appoints Winnie as deputy minister for Arts and Culture, it backfires badly.

Later that year he divorces Winnie because of her ‘brazen public conduct and infidelity’.

He donates a third of his salary to his Children’s Fund and lives frugally avoiding the State houses in preference for his Houghton house where his grandchildren live.

On the Economic front growth improved, Government debt was reduced, inflation lowered and the deficit reduced.

On Madiba’s watch the decision to embark on the notorious Arms deal was initiated.

In addition to his work in rebuilding South Africa Madiba came to play an enormous role on the world stage and played an important role in trying to resolve international questions.

Madiba only served one term as President, “you need younger men who can shake and move this country”.

1997: Thabo Mbeki was elected as President of the ANC.

1998: Madiba, at 80, marries Graça Machel.

1999: Madiba hands over the Presidency to Thabo Mbeki

Conclusion

In 2002, three years into President Mbeki’s rule South Africa was on the brink of a meltdown. The  Rand exceeded R17 to the US$ and R21 to the £. Many were talking of the ‘Zimbabweanification”  of SA, of our becoming a ‘Banana Republic’. There was a flight of capital and our brain drain was at  it’s worst.

Between 2002 and 2007 we enjoyed five years of unprecedented prosperity. In 2008 we were caught by the global recession, but not as badly as others.

So, as we reflect on Madiba’s Presidency and his legacy we have to ponder on what could have been.

We could have faced an unmitigated disaster – the world thought we were going to erupt in a civil  war – the US warned of a million dying in the turbulence that was to follow our first democratic election.

It did not happen.

You saw to that.

Madiba: Thank you for your example; thank you for being prepared to forgive; thank you for your patience;  thank you for your five years as our first democratic president; thank you for the legacy you have left us.

Your contribution to the great nation we are destined to become will ‘never, never, and never again’  be forgotten.

God, in His mercy, has His hand on you, and on us.